Attacks on human rights, land and environmental defenders

Global Witness released Missing voices: the violent erasure of land and environmental defenders (September 2024), its annual report on the number and the nature of attacks on environmental and human rights defenders globally.

Human Level’s Take: The numbers paint a stark picture: land and environmental defenders are increasingly under attack from powerful state and non-state actors. In 2023 alone, 196 defenders were killed, adding to a sobering total of over 2,000 deaths since Global Witness started reporting data in 2012. Many of these defenders are Indigenous Peoples, whose lands are increasingly targeted for critical minerals needed for the energy transition. These attacks vary widely, from violent killings to legal manoeuvres designed to stifle activism and restrict civic space. Behind these numbers are real people with powerful stories. They are speaking out for us all, to protect our environment and lands. What are companies to do? Take a commitment; conduct due diligence to understand where the risks of attacks are, engage with stakeholders, and exercise leverage.

Key points from the report:

• The lay of the land: In 2023, 196 defenders were killed for protecting their lands and the environment from harm, with the actual number likely to be higher. Half of all defenders killed in 2023 were Indigenous Peoples (43%) or Afrodescendants (6%). In total, over 2,000 defenders have been killed globally since Global Witness started reporting data in 2012. And many attacks are linked to climate change, with over 1,500 defenders killed since the Paris Agreement was adopted in 2015. Latin America remains the deadliest region for defenders, making up 85% of the cases documented in 2023. Within this region, Colombia is the deadliest country for land and environmental defenders with 79 murdered in 2023 – 40% of all reported cases. Mining and extractives are the biggest industry driver so far, with 25 defenders killed after opposing mining operations in 2023. And this is likely to rise as we transition to cleaner energy, which uses lands that hold significant natural reserves of key critical minerals vital for clean energy technologies, including nickel, tin, rare-earth elements and bauxite

• A smorgasbord of attacks: State and non-state actors use a variety of lethal and non-lethal attacks on defenders to suppress voice and activism. These measures include killings, enforced disappearances; violence and intimidation accompanied with systematic erasure of victims’ stories; abductions; anti-protest legislation targeting individuals and groups involved in peaceful climate activism; judicial harassment; and SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation). Attacks on defenders are multifaceted in nature: they can be visible or invisible and are supported by a system of complicity such as compromised civic spaces, rampant corruption and dysfunctional legal systems.

• Indigenous Peoples at the heart of climate action: The report spotlights the importance of Indigenous Peoples in effective climate action as they hold a wealth of insights on sustainable resource management, conservation practices and traditional adaptation strategies that can help us better respond to climate change. And yet, Indigenous Peoples have increasingly been subjected to attacks and sidelined in climate negotiations and the climate policy space. The result is that climate solutions are inadequate. As Jenifer Lasimbang - Indigenous Orang Asal from Malaysia and Executive Directive of Indigenous Peoples of Asia Solidarity Fund - says: “Trust us. Let us lead. We will take you with us.” The same sentiment is shared by Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim - Mbororo pastoralist people, Chad Coordinator of Association for Indigenous Women and Peoples of Chad and Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues – who says: “As the climate crisis worsens, the world is finally turning to us for solutions – but not as equal beneficiaries. Global leaders must not simply take these solutions from us but must let us show the world the way.”

• What can companies do? The report recommends that businesses demonstrate their zero tolerance for attacks on land and environmental defenders, illegal land acquisition and violations of the right to free, prior and informed consent throughout all levels of their operations. They should also implement robust procedures that identify, prevent, document, mitigate and remedy harm caused to defenders throughout their entire value chain. In addition, businesses should monitor cases of reprisals, identify systemic risks and adapt relevant business activities following meaningful stakeholder engagement. They should also identify clear red lines for prompt suspension or termination of contracts for non-compliant suppliers.

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